The goals Coupeville tennis coach Ken Stange has for his athletes go beyond the players’ high-school years.

“I always have the expectation that the players will grow their games while enjoying a lifelong sport that they can play for decades,” Stange said.

“I love the game and I like sharing it with people who enjoy it.”

His immediate goal is an Olympic League championship.

“This season, I’m adding the expectation of a league title,” he said. “I’m not sure what Klahowya has to offer, but I don’t see why we can’t do what the hoops squad did.”

The Wolves built a strong nonleague schedule, including traditional foes South Whidbey, Friday Harbor, Granite Falls and Lakewood. Also on tap are matches with Sequim, a strong 2A school, and powerhouse Charles Wright Academy.

The difficult schedule should help Coupeville prepare for conference play and give the players an idea of what to expect in the postseason, Stange said.

“We could advance as many as three singles players and three doubles teams to districts,” Stange said. “My girls are greedy, and so am I. We want to dominate the league tourney this season. If we can pack the district bracket with our own players, we will increase our shot of sending kids to state.

“It’ll take a lot of effort, but I really think this group has a solid combination of talent and drive. Both are necessary.”

One of the keys to success, Stange said, is for the multi-sport athletes to realize tennis is more than a “light and fun” sport.

“Then they see that they can apply the athleticism and tenacity that they apply in other sports to the tennis court,” he said. “They turn it into a contact sport.”

The team’s strength, according to Stange, is its depth; 10 letter winners return from 2014.

Last year’s No. 2 singles player, senior Jacki Ginnings, will lead the singles lineup. Returning double players seniors Micky LeVine and Wynter Thorne could help fill in at singles this year.

The other returning players, seniors Ana Luvera, Ivy Luvera and Haleigh Deasy; juniors Sydney Autio and McKenzie Bailey; and sophomores Valen Trujillo and Bree Daigneault, should stock the doubles lineup, Stange said.

Key newcomers include junior Jazmine Franklin and freshmen Sage Renninger, Payton Aparicio and McKenzie Meyer. Meyer could help out in singles, the others in doubles, Stange said.

Coupeville, which went 6-7 last year and finished third in the Cascade Conference, heads to South Whidbey at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 19, to begin the season. The home and league opener is 4 p.m. Thursday, March 26, with Klahowya.